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June-July Book Pool Challenge
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Ninitha (Niko) - 9
Erica - 7
Katrina - 7
Katherine - 4
Darkpool - 3
Kerry - 3
Allie - 3
Mariana -3
Carol - 2
Kate M - 2
Kelli - 2
Mod
That's one book that has evaded me. I've checked the libraries and it isn't due back any time soon and I read good things bout the book here.
Book 8 - BrokenFinished at 1 am this morning
5 stars!!
I loved this book, thanks Erica! It was a good choice. I was hooked from the beginning and just couldn't put it down.
I'm so tired now though, cause my kids decided 5 am was a good time to wake up. But it was worth it haha
Erica wrote: "I've got The Rules of Backyard Cricket out from the libs and ready to go so that will be my next read. What's everyone else reading?"I've just started Natchez Burning so that will probably be me finished for this challenge, as its a big one.
Ill have to try the rules of backyard cricket later, it sounds good.
I'm about to start New Finnish Grammar and have The Rules of Backyard Cricket out from the library as my backup read.
Mod
Finished at 1 am this morning
5 stars!!
I loved this book, thanks Erica! It was a good choice. I was hooked from the beginning and just couldn't put it down.
[bookcover:Broken|3214..."
Glad you liked it too Katrina!
book 4
Finished 13/7
5 freaking awesome stars.
Wow. utterly brilliant, gripping, beautifully written... words fail me. I wonder how accessible this is to a non-cricket fan though, and I'm not sure about recommending it to some of my non-sport loving friends. Will be interested to see what the rest of you think.
Mod
Finished 13/7
5 freaking awesome stars.
Wow. utterly brilliant, gripping, beautifully written... words fail me. I wonder how accessible th..."
It's so great when you finish a 5* book. Glad you liked it. Was this one you picked for the pool? I'm not cricket or sports mad so will let you know if it still has the same impact :)
Book 5 done- Cut & RunFinished: 19th July
3.5 stars...it was really hard to get into, thought it would get better but it didn't
Book 10Heavenly Hirani's School of Laughing Yoga
Extremely predictable, Heavenly Hirani's School of laughing yoga, is that (now cliched) story of the clueless westerner who finds her self in India. While the author certainly has captured the daily sights and sounds of India is some sections, on others she totters on the brink of stereotyping and perhaps even blatant racism. However, the latter can be forgiven for it appears that offensive comments are made just to intensify her transformation. There is nothing new here. We've seen many movies and books on the same theme that the book turns predictable from the first page. 2/5
Book 4American War
3 stars
I felt it dragged on a little and in general didn't have too much character development outside of the main character. The story was also a little hard to follow because of how it was written in my opinion.
Book 11The Betrayers.
My biggest problem with this book is that, I don't have an opinion about it. It's a slice of life from a fallen from grace, Israeli minister's life. His character is etched well, complete with his faults and his past, but yet my take away from the book is not noteworthy. Is it written well? Yes. Is it boring? No. Would you suggest it to someone? I don't know.
I don't mind a bad book. It's the mediocre ones that makes me squirm cause I don't know where I stand with them. This book, is one for that list. 3/5 and the three stars goes to more than handful of new words the book introduced me to.
Mod
Awww! Thank you Erica. :)I've really enjoyed this past month. Only wish I had taken part in June too.
Book 9 - Natchez Burningfinished: 26/07/17
4 stars - was really good. Felt it dragged a little for me in the middle, but it was worth persevering.
Book 12My Name is Memory
If there is ever a book that is a big tease, then this is it. Beautifully written, this book is so captivating. It is the kind of book that makes you want to know what happens in the end, except, there is no end. It almost feels like the author's agent stole the manuscript and got it published before she could write the last few chapters. Or or or, she intended to make a trilogy out of it but never got around to doing it. The time and place jumps in the book are very well balanced and not once are we confused or the jumps jarring. The story also has a folk lore feel to it. Really, the book has all the elements needed to become a mass favourite. However, the disappointing ending (if I can call it that) robs it off all its potential glory.
As a reader who invested time, emotions and money in this book, I feel cheated. No matter what your reasons are, dear author, we deserved an ending. 4/5
Book 4
29 Jul
5 stars
Brilliant, highly enjoyable read.
I'm not an avid sports fan and all the cricket talk didn't bother me a bit, the story is too compelling.
Mod
Still one more day to go!
Mod
29 Jul
5 stars
Brilliant, highly enjoyable read.
I'm not an avid sports fan and all the cricket talk didn't bother me a bit, the story is t..."
I had this out from the libs but then got cold feet and took it back - I'm not really a sports fan at all so wasn't sure if I'd like it. Good to hear your thoughts Kerry that the story was compelling enough even if you're not that keen on sports.
Mod
Goneville
Finished 30/7
4.5★
Very good indeed. More than a musical memoir it really gives a sense of time & place on the hippy musical culture in the 1970s.
I have
out from the library but I'm not sure I'll get it read in two days. So I might be finished. :)
Mod
Goneville
Finished 30/7
4.5★
Very good indeed. More than a musical memoir it really gives a sense of time & place on the hippy musical culture in the 1970s.
..."
Goneville looks really interesting. Do you think someone from NZ would still appreciate it even if they don't know the musician its about?
I think I'll be sticking to the book pool even if the months are over. There are so many great suggestions here and I'd like to go through them all. :)
Mod
Goneville
Finished 30/7
4.5★
Very good indeed. More than a musical memoir it really gives a sense of time & place on the hippy..."
I think so as it gives a sense of the history of the seventies as well as the music. Unfortunately there is no Rough Justice on You Tube but there is Rick Bryant playing with the Jive Bombers. One amazing voice. I was playing their music as well as Quincy Conserve & Rocking Horse while I wrote my review.
Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Erica wrote: "Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Book 3Goneville
Finished 30/7
4.5★
Very good indeed. More than a musical memoir it really gives a sense of time & plac..."
I have a copy of this and hoped to have read it by now. I went to the Writers Festival session where Karen Hay discussed the book with Bollinger, a real nostalgia treat. I saw Rough Justice play way back then, though I'm fairly sure before Bollinger joined the band. Anyway the music was great that night.
Mod
Goneville
Finished 30/7
4.5★
Very good indeed. More than a musical memoir it rea..."
Ha! On my review I have a link where Bryant discusses what happened to the first version of Rough Justice - its hilarious!
I had such good intentions! Had to have surgery a while ago and really struggling to focus on rwading and following a plot at the moment, but hoping to get my reading mojo back soon. Well done to everyone that has been reading and enjoying the pool. So pleased that a few of you got through The Rules of Backyard Cricket.
Mod
In light of that tonight is the last night of the book pool!
Feel free for anyone to get their last reads in by midnight :) and I'll add them to the tally.
Mod
- 33 different books were read from the pool (out of 48)
- the books that were read by the most people (they were all read by three different people) were Broken, If I Was Your Girl, A Man Called Ove, Cut & Run: When the Truth is No Protection, and Ru.
- the most highly rated book on average (by bookpool readers) was The Rules of Backyard Cricket - it was rated 5* twice. The next most highly rated were If Tomorrow Comes (average rating 4.75*) and Broken (4.66*)
Hope you've all enjoyed the book pool, especially those who were participating for the first time. I've really enjoyed chatting to you all about the books and reading some books that weren't on my radar :)
I'll be hosting another bookpool challenge over Dec-Jan or Jan-Feb. Feel free to let me know which months would be your preference.
Until next time...
Mod
But if the majority want Dec-Jan that's OK. I'll still take part but only in January. :)
Erica wrote: "Hope you've all enjoyed the book pool."Thanks for setting this up again for us. I'm happy with either Dec/Jan or Jan/Feb split
Mod
Finally finished my last 2 bookpool books (The Dress and Bog Bodies Uncovered: Solving Europe's Ancient Mystery), which I couldn't quite get to the end of before midnight Monday. Yay!
Book Loving Kiwis
Books mentioned in this topic
Bog Bodies Uncovered: Solving Europe's Ancient Mystery (other topics)The Dress (other topics)
Broken (other topics)
Cut & Run: When the Truth is No Protection (other topics)
If I Was Your Girl (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Kim Thúy (other topics)Joanna Orwin (other topics)
Joanna Orwin (other topics)
Anne Salmond (other topics)
Alan Bennett (other topics)
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Book #7
Finished 12/7/17
4* read - Beautifully written.